How can church communities better support those who feel "scattered" or "lost"? The Shepherd’s Heart Behind Ezekiel 34:16 “I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the broken, and strengthen the weak; but I will destroy the fat and the strong. I will shepherd them with justice.” What We Learn About God’s Care • He notices when anyone is missing. • He initiates the search—He doesn’t wait for the sheep to wander back. • He meets every need: finding, restoring, healing, strengthening. • He confronts anything that harms the flock (“the fat and the strong”). Seeing People the Way God Does • Each “lost” or “scattered” person matters as much as the ninety-nine who feel secure (Luke 15:4-6). • No struggle is too messy for His compassion (Matthew 9:36). • Restoration is not just spiritual but relational and practical (James 2:15-17). How a Church Mirrors the Shepherd 1. Intentional Pursuit – Notice who has slipped away: missing faces, quiet withdrawals, abrupt online absences. – Reach out promptly and personally—calls, doorstep visits, texts that say more than “We missed you.” 2. Safe Pasture – Create spaces where questions, failures, and doubts are welcomed without gossip (Galatians 6:1). – Train leaders and volunteers in gentle, Scripture-saturated counseling. 3. Binding Up the Broken – Pair hurting members with mature believers for regular check-ins (Titus 2:3-5). – Offer support groups for grief, addiction, or financial hardship, anchored in the Word. 4. Strengthening the Weak – Teach sound doctrine that equips believers to stand firm (Ephesians 4:14-15). – Provide tangible help: meals, rides, child-care, job-search coaching (Acts 4:34-35). 5. Protecting the Flock – Address sin and abuse swiftly and biblically (1 Corinthians 5:1-5). – Foster an atmosphere of mutual accountability where “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17). Practical Steps for Every Believer • Keep a short prayer list of three people who seem distant; pray and contact them weekly. • Arrive early and linger after gatherings to spot newcomers or loners. • Share testimonies of God’s rescue in small groups to normalize vulnerability. • Offer a ride, a meal, or a listening ear before they have to ask. Encouragement From Other Passages • Isaiah 40:11 — “He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms.” • John 10:14 — “I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me.” • 1 Peter 5:2-4 — Elders are charged to “shepherd the flock of God…being examples to them.” When a church adopts the Shepherd’s own priorities—seeking, restoring, healing, strengthening—the scattered are gathered, and the lost know they are home. |
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